A free online training program is available to train food service staff.This has been launched by the National Allergy Strategy- a partnership between Australia's peak allergy bodies.​The free online training "Allabout Allergens" is available at www.foodallergytraining.org.au covers:

Over 140 people have been affected by food poisoning, with 11 people hospitalized at West Wyalong Hospital , after eating some light refreshments after attending a funeral wake.The The Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) Public Health Unit ​ are assisting in investigations.

A dirty kitchen appliance used to blend and puree food has been blamed as the source of a salmonella outbreak at the Burnside War Memorial Hospital in Adelaide's eastern suburbs.To date 16 people have become ill with a gastric illness."This is a very important time to give a warning out to all South Australians, but especially those in commercial kitchens, to make sure that their mixers are able to be properly cleaned, that there isn't food residue building up in parts of the mixer that can't be accessed." SA Health Minister Jack Snelling .All food service businesses that prepare food using a blender, juicer, or vitamiser need to ensure the equipment is dismantled fully, and each part is cleaned, to be visibly clean, then sanitised by heat or a chemical sanitiser.Source ABC www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-28/salmonella-outbreak-blamed-on-stab-mixer/6809610

State and territory food enforcement agencies are investigating cases of Salmonella, possibly associated with rockmelon, following an increase in cases in a number of states in Australia.

While we wait for further information, the best advice is that consumers, especially infants, the elderly, pregnant women or people with compromised immune systems, should not consume rockmelon.

FSANZ will continue to work with the state and territory enforcement agencies and the Federal Department of Health and update its advice to consumers.Further food safety advice regarding the safe preparation and storage of rockmelon can be found on the NSW Food Authority website. This contains advice on how to prepare rockmelons.

Information reproduced with permission of Food Standards Australia New Zealand​.

New South Wales Health reports over 40 people had gone to hospital since Saturday after consuming food believed to be from the Box Village Bakery, Sylvania NSW. One consumer had a emergency caesarean, giving birth to a baby 5 weeks early. An area of St George hospital needed to be cordoned off to cope with the influx of chronically ill patients with acute gastro. The bakery will remain closed until an investigation into the incident is completed by the NSW Food Authority.Information about food poisoning is available on the NSW Food Authority Website.http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/fp/food-poisoning with a fact sheet on Salmonella available from NSW Health able to be downloaded here.Photo ninemsn

A number of food product recalls in the past few days have confirmed that standards are in place across a range of food types.Egg food businesses need to meet food safety and labelling requirements, including the requirement that dirty eggs must not be sold for human consumption.The NSW Food authority has safe egg handling procedures that egg producers must follow. The NSW Food authority has resources on Listeria management program, and what do to when you have a presumptive Listeria test.Correct Food Systems can assist businesses with ensuring their product recall procedures are sufficient to enact a product recall in an timely and organised manner.

The ACCC has issued three infringement notices against Uncle Toby Oat products for false and misleading claims. Cereal Partners Australia is the manufacturer and distributor of Uncle Tobys branded oats.

"Consumers should be able to purchase food products based on accurate health and composition claims ... Oats have many health benefits, [but] on their own they are not high in protein, contrary to the representations made about these Uncle Tobys products," ACCC chairman Rod Sims said.​Earlier this week, Arnott's Biscuits was penalised by the ACCC for using a "false comparator" to claim its Shapes Light & Crispy products had 75 per cent less saturated fat.

With the East Coast of Australia copping a lashing of bad weather, rain and severe storms, the NSW Food Authority has put out a timely reminder for food businesses, on how to manage food safely in a emergency situation. www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/consumers/keeping-food-safe/emergenciesWhat to do in a flood or powerblackout? Follow these tips.For further information about how to manage food safely in a storm or emergency contact your local council or food authority.

Fonterra and New Zealand farmer group Federated Farmers received anonymous letters in November 2014 threatening to contaminate infant and other formula with 1080 unless New Zealand stopped using 1080 for pest control by the end of March 2015.This threat to poison infant formula in an act of "eco-terrorism" in New Zealand has plunged dairy giant Fonterra into its third food safety crisis since 2008. New Zealand Stock Exchange has taken the unprecedented step of requesting a halt to trading of shares in New Zealand based dairy companies including Fonterra, a2 and Synlait.Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/new-zealand-dairy-industry-blackmailed-in-poisoning-threat-20150310-1401ej.html#ixzz3Uh5U24y5

Queensland Health has issued an alert to businesses involved in food preparation, and the community as a whole as a result of a spike in the reported cases of Salmonella in Queensland in 2015.1895 cases of salmonella have been reported in Queensland in 2015 already -double what "the normal" incidence rates."Salmonella Typhimurium has caused 13 outbreaks of foodborne disease in South East Queensland this year to date, 10 of which have been confirmed or suspected to have involved foodborne transmission."“These figures show the vital need for food handlers to be aware of food safety procedures"The main issues observed during investigations into recent food borne illness outbreaks were:

Egg wash that had been topped up, used multiple times and kept at room temperature for long periods of time.

Raw eggs products such as mayonnaise, aioli, hollandaise, mousse and tiramisu prepared too far in advance and not refrigerated.

Inadequate cleaning and sanitation throughout food businesses.

Cross contamination of bacteria via tea towels and other equipment.

The latest outbreak involves a Gold Coast Cafe at Broadbeach, with over 15 cases of Salmonella food poisoning linked to the cafe.For advice on salmonella and safe food handling, visit the Queensland Health website: Further detail on the Queensland health alert can be found hereThe top five tips from Queensland Health on ensuring food safety are:

Always wash hands before and after handling eggs and raw chicken

Prevent cross contamination by using separate chopping boards, tongs, knives, containers and other equipment when storing, preparing, handling and cooking raw and ready to eat food.

Cook chicken thoroughly so that there is no pink meat and the juices run clear.

Uncooked food that contains raw eggs are a high risk, therefore consider using pasteurised egg products.

Ensure food is stored below 5 degrees Celsius and is returned to the refrigerator within two hours.

Leading Food Safety advocate Doug Powell has compiled and published a table listing all the reported incidences of Salmonella food poisoning, relating to eggs, in Australia, since 1991. Thanks Doug, this is a great list!See Dougs barf blog at http://barfblog.com/.Australia's egg related Salmonella food safety incidences listing.Restaurants and caterers feature, serving raw egg menu items.Infection with Salmonella species causes salmonellosis, with symptoms including gastric, fever, and cramping. Salmonellosis can be contracted from a variety of sources,not only egg and poultry.( peanut butter, rockmelon, chocolate, mangoes, dried spices etc etc)

However in Australia, the preparation of raw egg products seems to dominate the headlines.Cafes, Restaurants and Caterers need to recognise that egg is a potentially hazardous food and needs correct temperature control,( keep it cold, or cook it thoroughly) or other controls such as lowering pH, use pasteurised egg products, to ensure it is safe to serve.Basic food safety principles and processes need to be applied.Correct Food Systems can assist with education of staff, and implementation of a food safety program to ensure the risks involved with menu items is understood and controlled.

Australia's food safety response mechanisms have been targeted since frozen imported berries were linked to a series of hepatitis A cases in February 2015.The Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce continues to be actively concerned regarding Australia's food safety responsibilities to consumers.Jurisdiction for making decisions related to blocking or testing imported foods is shared by FSANZ and the departments of Agriculture and Health, as well as state departments and food safety authorities.

Canned and preserved fruit is classed as a "surveillance food import", which means 5 per cent of consignments are screened by the Department of Agriculture This will remain unchanged, but lead and tin testing will now be added to existing labelling checks undertaken at the border. Imported peaches would be subject to additional screening.

The Department of Agriculture increased the inspection rate back up to 100 per cent of consignments for tinned Tuna in late February 2015. The Australian Government said all tuna imported from the factory linked to the latest scombroid poisoning scare will be inspected and tested for histamine and held at the border until results of the laboratory analysis confirm, showing that the food is safe for human consumption.

The Age newspaper has reported a number of objects found in a range of food products reportedly purchased at Aldi supermarkets. Complaints range from life larvae in chocolates, a fingernail in icecream, starfish mixed in a tin of smoked oysters.A spokeperson from Aldi has said that Aldi is investigating the issues thoroughly with the suppliers and we will implement any further action if required.The full article in The Age can be viewed here.Correct Food Systems can assist with investigating customer complaints in an professional independent manner and work with client to ensure best practice foreign object controls are in place.

In the wake of the Nanna's frozen berries food safety incident, Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce has called for a revision of the country of origin labelling. Joyce will be presenting a White Paper with proposed changes soon. It is believed to recommend a statement identifying the country where the produce was grown.CHOICE has also called on the Government to take action on country of origin labelling, launching a petitionin mid February.Correct Food Systems will continue to keep you informed of any changes to food safety regulations and keep you abreast of the labelling requirements for food.

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Gary Kennedy

Industry expertFood Safety AuditorFood Technologist

Lisa Owens

Food Safety educator.Food Safety consultant

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